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Rebecca Week Three

It’s always advisable when trying to lose weight to get yourself moving a bit more and burn up some calories. Whenever people talk about ‘fitness’ they think that they must be sweating away in a gym 5 days a week to see any results but it is more a case of raising your level of activity on a daily basis and keeping it part of your regime.

This can mean simple changes, walking wherever possible instead of taking the car, joining a salsa class, getting off the bus a stop early, getting a walking buddy so you can gossip while you go along, join the kids for a game of football or race your partner to the pub.

I find myself doing silly things like putting some music on and having a dance when I’m doing the chores, running on the spot while I’m waiting for the kettle to boil, jogging to the nursery to pick up my son. It all might make you feel foolish but energy makes energy and soon you will feel you can run a marathon and still be home for dinner!

Here are some of my favourite toning exercises for your bottom, tummy, arms and legs.


1.Try some simple squats. Stand with your feet quite wide apart, hands on hips. Bend your knees and lower your bottom down. This is good for firming up the legs and your lovely bottom. Do at least 10 if you can and anything over 12 is excellent.

2.Abs. Everyone wants to flatten that tummy, so lie on your back, hold in those tummy muscles, knees bent, place your hands flat on your thighs, slide your hands slowly up your thighs bringing your head and shoulders a few inches off the floor as you do so. Try this again about 10 times it will do the job and it’s so much easier than sit-ups.

3.Summer Arms. Hold your arms straight out and rotate in circles, small at first, then getting bigger, first try it 20 times clockwise then anti clockwise and before long you will baring all in the sunshine.

4.Lovely legs. Kneel on all fours, hands beneath your shoulders, look to the floor while extending one leg behind you in a straight line, gently raise and lower at least 10 times then swap to the other leg. If you want to do more stay in this position but bring the knee in to your stomach and push out, again try it on both legs 10 times.

These exercises seem really simple but they can be done in your front room, any time of day you like and will tone you up without killing you!